Sociology

Inequalities in education present negative impacts on the reputation of the schools and most importantly on the students.  In a society where unemployment is high for example, only students from reputable schools are given the opportunity to get employed, those who are from segregated schools are discriminated outright.  This scenario is not uncommon to Americans, the reason why many students strive to enter into reputable schools, and once enrolled there, they always brag about it.  They are looked up to with high regard and are thought and expected to excel in their respective fields. Our culture created a ranking system of schools and students; and considering the competitive nature of students or human beings in general, schools and students in this regard do compete.

On the students’ side, it is not proper to discriminate or shall I say to emphasize the ranking of, schools and students in the long run.  Students at an early age would be prejudiced in that they are not given any credit at all for instance in their opinions or participation in certain events in their community.  This is not a good ground for development.  It simply creates a pessimistic attitude on the part of the students from segregated schools.  Learning is not a matter of what school a student comes from but it is a matter of how well one knows his lessons, how much one learns from school and how he applies what he learns.  A comparison for example of the subjects and academic activities for instance would reveal that schools almost teach the same subject matters; only that students are exposed to different environments.  Second, true there are segregated schools, but it does not mean they do not produce good students.  Exceptional students remain exceptional wherever school they attend to.  Hence, there are students from segregated schools but are not given the opportunity to attend to popular schools, who are performing exceptionally well.

On another point however, Kozol is right.  There are top ranking schools all over the United States for example.  Many people look up to Harvard and MIT among others. This gives an implication that there is discrimination on the other end of the spectrum. The notable consequences of being in a state where there are not good schools are real.  The children who are out of school or are in segregated schools do not get good jobs, financially unstable.  The opportunities going to them are far behind than those who are exposed to good education.  Thus, they end up living in some hostile environments where homicide is common, illegal use of dangerous drugs is popular.  The same thing will happen to their children and their children’s children.

There would be less growth or development in terms of knowledge, training and employment opportunities to the extent that children who do not get good education would resort to unlawful means of obtaining livelihood (No Author, 2005).  This may sound discriminating, but it is a fact of life.  Kozol had the opportunity to compare the lifestyles of those who do not get education at all or if at all they are able to but of poor quality education; he remarked on their views way of life as a people.  They are exposed to crimes everyday, homicide or day to day street gang fights not being uncommon to them.  As a result, they would grow up with undesirable behavior or attitude, thus limiting their chances of obtaining good jobs and raising a good family.  In the long run, states, cities or places which offer poor quality education to students would likewise experience slow growth in technological, social and economic advancements – creating a vicious cycle.

    Education is something almost all would strive to obtain.  While there is indeed discrimination created by society itself, people who have not reached the highest standard of education have reasons of their own, and no one could be blamed for that.  What matters is literacy, how little it may be!